The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been successful in prosecutions after a high voltage shock to a tipper truck's mechanics endangered the lives of workers, public liability insurance holders have been told.
Sheffield-based contractor JF Finnegan pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £17,500 with £2,126 in costs.
Saxby Surfacing Contractors, also of Sheffield, pleaded guilty to contravening rule 34(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and was fined £5,000 with £708 in costs.
Doncaster Magistrates Court heard how both companies were involved in the building of a private road at First Point Business Park in Doncaster, when during the work a tipper wagon, which was in its raised position, touched a high voltage overhead cable.
The 66,000 volt shock passed through the wagon, causing severe damage to the pneumatics and hydraulics, with inspectors finding that this was the third similar incident at the site.
Last year, Ineos Manufacturing Scotland was fined £1,500 after a worker was burned by live power cables.